a member of the Hareesh. No one can get out for now. Not until things calm down.”
Jonas didn’t bother to ask about the Hareesh. Obviously they were some sort of criminal organization. Gazing down at her frail form, he thought that Kat had told him enough for now.
He stood up and gave her a stern look. “I want you to stay with us until I tell you differently. Understand?”
She cocked her head. “Why? I thought you didn’t want me around?”
“I don’t,” he replied. “But there are some things I just can’t abide.” He returned to his cot. “Don’t think this means I’ve changed my mind about you. You’re still nothing but a thieving street urchin.”
“And you’re still a worthless, mean hearted servant,” she shot back, though without very much conviction in her voice.
Jonas fought back a smile as he lay down. But the moment quickly passed. It was taking a great effort to quell the rage he felt for this Jared fellow. To force a young girl into becoming a whore was…unforgivable. Such crimes would have been severely punished when Lord Dragonvein lived.
He squeezed his eyes tightly shut. Absolutely unforgivable.
Chapter Four
THE MORNING BROUGHT the sounds of a bustling city into the small room. Jonas was already up and waiting patiently for the others to rouse.
Ethan rubbed his eyes and stretched. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I hope Mildred remembers to bring us some food. ”
Jonas made no reply to this comment. Instead, he said quite abruptly: “I think we should keep Kat with us for a while longer.”
Ethan cocked his head. “I thought you said…”
“I know what I said. But we may need her help. She knows the city, and we don’t.”
“For how long?” Ethan asked.
“Until we reach the next town. She got us in. We might need her to get us out again.”
“Have you asked her if she even wants to come along?”
“No, he hasn’t,” Kat’s voice chipped in. She was still lying with her back to them. “And being that my debt is now paid, tell me why I should go anywhere with you?”
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want,” said Ethan.
She rolled over to look at them. “And if I don’t, you’ll both end up dead.” She sat up and scratched her head vigorously. “I figure that you lied about having papers, so you’ll be needing fakes. I can tell you where to get them. And I know which guards are honest and which ones can be bribed.”
“So you’ll stay?” Ethan asked.
“For now,” she answered through an exaggerated yawn.
A short time later Mildred came down with a tray bearing three bowls of porridge and cups of honeyed water.
“I’m going to the market later,” said Mildred. “But I’ll leave the back door open for you.”
“Don’t bother,” Kat said. “I won’t be coming back.”
Mildred nodded. “Good.” She turned to Jonas. “Will you get her out of the city?”
“If I can, I will,” he replied. “You have my word.”
Mildred gave Kat a final embrace. “You take care, young lady.”
“I will,” she promised.
Ethan and Jonas thanked Mildred for her help yet again before she left, then hungrily set about their breakfasts. Once done, Kat led them back up onto the street. By now it was already mid-morning and hundreds of people were swarming along the sidewalks and avenues.
“Miltino is more populated than I remember,” remarked Jonas. He was doing his best to follow Kat as she headed west.
“Lately people have been coming in from the country looking for work,” she told him over her shoulder. “Easy pickings for a good thief.”
Jonas frowned. “You will kindly refrain from stealing while you’re in our company. We don’t need the trouble.”
Kat flashed a mischievous grin. “I’ll do my best.” She held up a coin purse. The strings had been cut. “Starting now.”
Ethan couldn’t help but be impressed. He had not seen her do anything, yet she had been able to swipe a purse with both he and Jonas never more than a few feet behind her.
Jonas grumbled. “Don’t make me regret this.”
She tossed the purse to Ethan and winked. “I won’t.”
After a few blocks the houses gave way to small shops and taverns. Vendors of every description were noisily calling out their wares, while street musicians and beggars blocking the walkway made it impossible to move swiftly.
Kat halted in front of a small inn with a sign that read The Heart’s Haven. “The inn keeper here won’t ask too many questions as long as you keep to yourself,” she